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Rebel Championship clubs have discussed taking drastic action in their battle with the EFL by mounting a legal challenge and a vote of no confidence in chief executive Shaun Harvey over the £595m TV deal.

A five-year broadcasting rights deal was agreed with Sky on Monday, with the EFL insisting it was in the best interests of the 72 clubs outside the Premier League.

But senior executives from a number of Championship clubs attended a crisis meeting at Villa Park on Tuesday and are ready to go to war with the EFL, alleging they were not properly consulted and even misled.

The Derby and Leeds owners, Mel Morris and Andrea Radrizzani respectively, have been strong opponents of the disparity between Premier League and Championship incomes and are understood to have been prominent figures at the meeting.

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani wanted a better deal Credit:
PA

And in a statement released on behalf of the clubs, further talks are planned next week to assess the next move as they prepare to fight their corner.

Nineteen of the 24 Championship clubs are said to be unhappy with the deal. Harvey is also facing huge opposition over his role as chief executive.

The statement read: "Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL Board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal.

"Nineteen clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the proposed deal and to engage in meaningful discussions. This was ignored.

"The clubs discovered that in the space of 15 months, without our knowledge, material changes had been made to this draft agreement. When the EFL Board presented the new version of the deal - it gave more games and rights for less money and damaged the ability of clubs to control the decision to stream games and its pricing.

"Our issues are not with Sky, who we respect and value, but with the way in which the proposed agreement has been negotiated and explained to clubs.

"We remain convinced that any solution to the broadcasting of EFL competitions can only be on the basis of protecting attendances and securing the financial position of all our 72 clubs.

"There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here."

Sky's new terms represent a 35% increase on the current arrangement and the broadcasting giant will continue to show the EFL games (including play-offs), Carabao Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy until May 2024.